Device for imparting motion to toy airplanes



Oct. 31, 1939. J. A. masons 2,177.709

' navxcs FOR mnmxmmonon TO TOY AIRPLANES Fil ed Jan. 12, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JAMES A. GIaBbNs ATTORNEY Oct.3l, 1939. J. A.GIBBONS DEVICE FOR IMPARTING MOTION TO TOY AIRPLANES Filed Jan. 12, 19382 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Y E mm m m m A Y EB m. J

FIEA.

Patented 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATEN osric DEVICE FOR IMPARTING MOTIONo r or AIRPLANES James A. Gibbons, North Hollywood, Calif., as-

signor to Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application January 12, 1938, Serial N 1 84,609-

15 Claims.

This invention relates to photography and particularly to apparatus formaneuvering a miniature or model airplane, or the like, to simu- 16 isproduced by making a dolly shot of a miniature which is maneuvered abouta fixed vertical axis, the maneuvering of the miniature beingcoordinatedwith the movement of the camera and with the changingbackground scene. As disgo closed in the patent, the background may beeither a dye toned transparency in the camera for a color separationshot, or it may be a motion picturev projected on a translucent screen.Although the above described arrangement is 25 particularly adapted forcertain shots, it requires an exact coordination between the movementsof the background component and the movements of the foregroundcomponent to represent the airplane as being in flight. Furthermore as80 the miniature airplane, or'the like, does not travel in the samemanner as the full scale airplane would, it'precludes the use of modelor miniature backgrounds (for a motion picture back ground sceneprojected on a translucent screen) 35 being photographed with theairplane movln in a natural manner in front thereof.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the above mentioneddifficulties, while making it possible to photograph the foreground and(0 an actual background by simple photography, although compositephotography. may also be used.

In accordance with the present invention the object comprising theforeground component of it a scene such as a miniature airplane, issuspended on a plurality of cables supported at either side thereof.Suitable manipulating de-- vices are provided at either supported endsof the cables to move the object in a path similar fit to the path theobject would follow under actual travelling conditions, with means formaneuvering the object, viz., banking and tilting an airplane, while itis moved along its path. The, airplane, or the like, may be thus movedand maneuvered in front of a miniature set for on a suitable platform II.

simple photography, or it may be thus moved v and maneuvered in front ofa translucent screen on which a background motion picture is projected,for composite photography.

For further details of the invention, referenc may be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for maneuvering a modelairplane according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the elevators employed inFig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of one of the elevators along the lines3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. ,4 is a sectional elevational view through a modified form ofelevator mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6.15 a perspective schematic view of a counterbalancing system formaintaining the suspension cables under a constant" tension.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a modified form of turntable to be used in oneof the elevators.

Flg. 8 is an end view of the turntable illustrated in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating one of the ferrules forremovably suspending the airplane from the suspension cables.

While the invention will be described in con- 'nectlon with and isparticularly adapted to the maneuvering of a miniature airplane tosimulate the actual movement of a full sized airplane, it will beunderstood that the invention can alsobe used to maneuver any objectalong a predetermined path. For example, a miniature submarine may bemoved, to simulate actual travelling conditions of a full-sizedsubmarine.

Referring to Fig. 1 the background component of the scene comprises inthis case, aphysical set, forming a miniature airport It supported Apair of elevators generally indicated at It. and I3 are rovided .oneither side of the set II! to support he ends of three suspension cablesM, ii and IS. A

miniature airplane H, the size of which is'dlrectly proportional tothesize of the set It, is I slidably suspended from a track comprising thecables l4, l5 and ii by guides or ferrules l8, l9 and 29. I

A ferrule for suspending one of the wings is shown inFig. 9 and all ofthe ferrules P8, is and 2% are similarly constructed. The ferrule inFig. 9 comprises an outer cylindrical sleeve 5 having a longitudinalslot 3 therein. Sleeve 5 1s suitably secured to the wing portion 1 ofthe by guide rollers 2! to 30 inclusive.

miniature I1 and is preferably disguised as a light or other projectionthereon. An inner cylindrical sleeve 8 closely fitted within the sleeve5 also has a longitudinal slot 9 formed therein. When the ferrule is tobe attached to or detached from its corresponding cable the inner sleeve3 is rotated with a screw driver until the slot 9 therein is alignedwith the slot 5 in sleeve 5 permitting the suspension cable to heslipped transversely through these two slots.

The above mentioned type of ferrule is disclosed and claimed in theco-pending app1ication of James A. Gibbons entitled Cable trolley,Serial No. 185,004, filed January 14, 1938. A draw cable 2| attached tothe forward end of the airplane I1 is provided for drawing the planealong the wires i4, i5 and Hi past a motion picture camera 22 directedtoward the set it.

The elevator i2 comprises a base 23 suitably supported on the iioor. Apair of spaced upright guide members 24 and 25 extend upwardly from thebase 23 to form an elevator frame. A carriage 23 is movable verticallyalong the track or guide members 24 and 23 and supported therefrom Aturntable 31 is mounted on the carriage 2B. for rotation about ahorizontal axis and has secured .to the face thereof one end or each ofthe cables l4, l5 and IS. The turntable 3| is provided with a handle 32by means of which the turntable may be turned. The weight of carriage 26is counterbalanced byv a weight 33 connected to the carriage 25 by acable 34 passing around a pair of pulleys ture 31 provided directly inthe center of the turntable 3i, over a pulley 33 suitably supported bythe turntable 3!, under a second pulley 40 supported in fixed relationto the elevator I2 and is adapted to be drawn by hand or by any suitablemotive means such as a motor and wind ing drum.

The elevator I3 is similar to that of i2 and comprises a base 4|,uprights 42 and 43. a carriage 44 movable vertically along the guidemembers 42 and 43, a turntable 45 rotatably mounted on the carriage 44and a counterweight 46 for counterbalanclng the weight of the carriage44 and turntable 45, In order to permit the miniature airplane I! to bedrawn smoothly along the cables 14, i5 and I8, and also to permit theairplane I! to be returned to its original position after being drawnacross the set It), a cable 39 is secured to the tail of the plane I!and passes through a centrally located aperture 41 in the 10, past thefield oithe motion picture camera 22. During the travel of the plane l1across the set l either or both of the carriages 25 and 44 may be raisedor lowered 'toimpart. a rising or falling movement to the plane 11,while simul taneously oscillating either of the turntables 3| and 45 toimpart a tilting or rocking movement to the plane ll, thus simulatingactual flight conditions.

It will, of course, be understood that the cables I4, l5, l and 2| arevery small and are painted black or other non-actinic colors so as to benonactinic and invisible. Furthermore, certain of these cables may beconnected to a source of electric current supply so as to form a circuitconnection to certain electrical devices associated with the plane H,such as lights, a motor for driving a propeller, etc.

In the event that it is desired to retain the airplane H in a horizontalposition throughout its path of movement across the set Ill, a synchronizing cable 52, suitably connected between the carriages 25 and 44,may be employed to move these carriages in a parallel manner. Cable 52is connected'at one end thereof to a weight 53 and is removably clampedto the carriage 44 through a. clamp 54. Cab1e'52 then passes over a pairoi. pulleys 55 and 55, under a third pulley 5T, thence across and belowthe set ill, under a fourth pulley 58 adjacent the elevator I2. Cable 52is removably clamped to the carriage 25 by clamp 80. The end of cable 52adjacent the carriage 26 is weighted at El after passing around a pairof pulleys b2 and 53. It will thus be seen that as either of thecarriages 25 or 44 is raised or lowered vertically, a correspondingmovement will be imparted to the other of these carriages, thusmaintaining the airplane i! in a horizontal position at all times whilebeing raised or lowered by the carriages 26 and 44 and at the same timeit may be bankedor tilted by either or both of the turntables 3| and 45.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, illustrating one of the elevators [3, eitherof these elevators may be moved laterally so as to impart a lateralmovement to the airplane I! by the provision or a set of wheels 54, 65,55 and 61 on the base of the respective elevator. These wheels 64 to 81inclusive are guided along tracks 58 and 89 to permit a lateral shiftingmovement of the elevator.

The turntable 44v is shown as comprising a flanged circular diskrotatably fitted within a circular aperture formed in the carriage 44.An annular flange 1| suitably secured by screws II to the disk Jormingthe main portion of the turntable 45 on the side opposite the flangedportion thereof is provided to retain the turntable 45 on the carriage44. The clamp 54 for removably securing the synchronizing cable 52 tothe carriage 44 comprises a block 12 suitably secured to the face of thecarriage 44. A slot 13 formed in the block 12 permits the insertion ofthe cable 52 therein, which cable is adapted to be secured within theslot 13 by a clamp screw 14. A clamp comprising a U-shaped membersecured at 18 to the carriage 44 and extending around the upright guidemember 43 is provided to clamp the carriage 44 in any desired verticalposition. A clamp screw 11, threaded in one of the legs of clamp 15, isprovided to secure the clamp 15 to the guide member 43.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified form of elevator mechanism .to beemployed .for automatically changing the effective length of cable l5 toraise or lower the tail of the airplane 11. A vertically extendingstationary cam 18 is supported from upright guide member .42 by spacedbrackets 30 and 81. The suspension cable l5 supporting the tail of theairplane ll, instead of being secured to the face of the turntable 45,is secured to a plunger 82 slidably mounted within an aperture 33located directly above the center of the turntable 45 Plunger 82 isformed into a U-shaped stirrup 34 in which is rotatably mounted acam-follower wheel 35 engaging the cam surface of cam 18. As thecarriage 44 is the cam 78 and thus cause the cable IE to tighten or sagand consequently cause the tail of the airplane to raise or lower. Thistilt apparatus of Figs. 4 and 5 is particularly adapted for maneuveringthe airplane l'l to'simulate landing or take-off thereof. The cam 18 isso shaped and positioned that whilethe plane I1 is in contact with thefloor of the set Hi, the tail suspension cable'ifi will allow theairplane to assume a three point contact with the floor. As the tail istilted in a slightly different manner, for take-oil and for landing,separate cams of correspondingly different shapes may be used fortake-off and landing, if desired.

In the event that the effective distance between the two turntables ifand 05 is materially ture is projected, or the like, in correct propor-I changed during ,vertical movement of either of the carriages 26 and44, either because the elevators l2 and I3 are spaced relatively closetogether or because the carriages 20 and 44 are moved verticallyarelatively large amount with respect to each other, a counterbalancingsystem illustrated in Fig., 6 may be employed to produce a constanttension on the cables, I5 and i6 regardless of the positions of thecarriages 28 and 44. Herein the cables ll, l5 and I6 pass throughapertures 01, 88 and 89 in the turntable 3| and under pulleys 90,'9l and92 respectively carried on an extension 93 suitably supported from theturntable 3|. The ends of the cables ll, I5 and I6' after passing aroundsupporting pulleys I05 and I00 are secured to the cross head 94. Alooped cable 95 secured at either end thereof to. the ends of the crosshead 94 carries a weighted roller 90 to maintain an equal tension on thecables H, I5 and 38. Since the ends of the cables ll, i5 and [6 arefixed relative to each other, the counterweight-- system may be employedin conjunction with the apparatus illustrate Figs. 4 and 5.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustra a motor and winding drum attachment for theturntable 3| for the purpose of operating the draw cable 2|. A drum 01having wrapped therearound the end of cable 2| is rotatably mounted ateither end thereof on hearing brackets '98 and 09 supported on aplatform I00 suitably secured to the face of the turntable 3|. A wormgear i0l secured in driving relationv to the shaft of the drum 9'!meshes with a worm I02 provided on the shaft of an electric motor I03.

In lieu of the physical set i0, the miniature airplane I! may bephotographed before a painting of clouds, translucent screen on which apiction to the size of the airplane II.

If it is desired, while employing the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1,to tilt the airplane I 'I about a transverse horizontal axis with aminimum vertical movement of the airplane as a whole, the synchronizingcable 52 may be so attached to the elevators l2 and ii that one elevatorwill be raised while the other elevator is lowered and vice versa; One'way in which this may be accomplished is to secure the clamp 66 of thecarriage 26 to the portion of cable 52 extending between the weight SIand the upper pulley 63 while retaining the clamp 54 of carriage 04secured to theportion of the same cable 52 which extends between theother weight 53 and the pulley 55. The 'above tilting may be producedwhile towing the airplane I! along the guide cables [4, l5 and I0 beforethe stationary miniature set ill or it may be produced by me.-nipulating the airplane without forward motion thereof in front of atranslucent screen on which is projected a moving cinematographicbackground scene. In either case a motion picture camera may photographthe airplane i1 while being tilted and/or moved in front of itsbackground.

described in the above patent to produce the composite picture.

I claim: l. A system for simulating an aircraft in flight comprising thecombination of a miniature aircraft, a plurality of flexible suspensionmembers, means for slidably attaching the wings and the tail of saidminiature to said members, laterally spaced means for supporting saidflexible suspension members at opposite sides of said miniature, meansassociated with the members sup porting the wings for varying the bank.of said wings, means associated with said tail supporting member forvarying the tilt position of said tail, and means for traversing saidminiature along said suspension members.

2. A system for simulating an aircraft in flight comprising thecombination of a base, a pair of spaced upright guides on said base. acarriage movable along said guides, a rotatable turntable on saidcarriage adapted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the path ofmovement of said carriage, and means comprising a plurality ofsuspension members supported by said turntable for supporting aminiature aircraft.

3. A system for simulating a vehicle in travel comprising thecombination of a plurality of suspension members adapted to suspend avehicle, means on one side of said vehicle for supporting said members,and an elevator on the other side of said vehicle for supporting saidmembers, said elevator comprising a carriage, means for guiding saidcarriage in a vertical path, a turntable mounted on said carriage forrotation about a horizontal axis: said turntable supporting saidmembers, and a cam for varying the efiective length of one of saidsuspension members as said carriage is moved.

4. A system for simulating an aircraft in flight comprising thecombination of a base, a

pair of spaced upright guides on said base, a,

5. A system for simulatinga vehicle in, travel comprising thecombination of apair of spaced elevators -movable in substantiallyvertical di-,' rections, a turntable on each of said elevators,

each or said tumtabies being rotatable about an axis substantially atright angles to the direction of travel of its elevator, a plurality oicables extending between said turntables and adapted to support avehicle, and means for varying the effective length of one oi saidcables between said elevators to vary the tilt of the ve hicle. 6. Asystem according to claim 5 comprising a counterbalance tor saidsuspension members to compensate for a variation in the effective lengthof said suspension members between said turntables consequent uponmovement of one or said elevators with respect to the other.

7. A system for simulating a vehicle in travel comprising thecombination of a miniature 0! said vehicle, three cables providing athree point support for said vehicle, laterally spaced means forsupporting said cables at opposite sides oi. said vehicle, common meansat one side 01' said vehicle for rotating said cables about a commonaxis, common means at the other side of said vehicle for rotating saidcables about a common axis, means for varying the effective length ofone of said cables, means movably supporting each of said common means,and a cable extending between one of said common means and said vehiclefor towing said vehicle along said cables.

8. A system for simulating an aircraft in flight comprising thecombination of a miniature of said aircraft, a plurality ofsubstantially parallel flexible cables forming a three point suspensionfor said miniature, laterally spaced means for supporting said cablesonopposite sides of 'said cables to vary the tilt of said miniature,meansior varying the elevation of said miniature, and

cables.

9. A system for simulating a vehicle in travel comprising thecombination of three substantial- 1y parallel suspension members adaptedto provide a three point suspension for a vehicle, means on oppositesides-oi the vehicle for supporting said members, one of said meanscomprising a turntable, a carriage on which said turntable is rotatable,and an upright track on which said carriage is vertically movable.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein a tow cable connecting saidvehicle isprovided for moving the said vehicle along said members.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein each of said means comprises acarriage, turntable and track as recited in cla'im9.

12. A system for simulating a vehicle in travel comprising thecombination of av plurality of a 14. A system for simulating an aircraftin flight comprising the combination of a track, means Iorsuspending aminiature aircraft from said track,'means for propelling said miniatureon said track, and means operableduring travel of said miniature on saidtrack for tilting said track to varythe bank or the wings 01 saidminiature.

15. A system according to claim 14 comprising means operable duringtravel of said minia- ,ture on said track for varying the tilt position0! the tail of said miniature.

JAMES A. GIBBONS.

means for moving said miniature along said

